NEWS

Smash Hit: Learn to Love the Overhead

The overhead is a shot top players love and club players fear. To win at a high level, you must develop a good overhead. These two videos will show you the basic technique and a great way to practice overheads with a partner.

Watch them to learn...

1. How to find the Continental grip.

2. How to lift your racquet and point your nondominant hand at the ball as soon as you see a lob go up.

3. How to reach up for the ball and snap through it.

And don’t forget to practice overheads with your partner. The drill in the second video will help improve your technique and give you a great workout.

CLICK HERE to watch the video on Overhead Smash Basics. The overhead smash is the slam dunk of tennis: It sends a message to your opponent that you're here to play. If you want to play at a high level, this stroke must be part of your arsenal.

CLICK HERE to watch the video on the Overhead Smash Drill. This drill helps you work on your footwork and overhead stroke—and offers a great cardiovascular workout to boot.

Greg Moran is the author of Tennis Doubles Beyond Big Shots and the director of tennis at the Four Seasons Racquet Club in Wilton, Conn.